What you see above is the recently announced Dodge Challenger set to race in the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series. The car will actually race in 4 different races in the 2010 series; Daytona, Michigan, Richmond and Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

As you can see, Dodge Motorsports made it very easy to tell the vehicle is based on the Challenger, keeping the front of the car looking very production like.

We’ll keep you posted as more information is revealed about this vehicle and the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series.

via autoblog

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Well, NASCAR fans, apparently now there’s less to worry about than you might have been afraid of.  Remember how those extra cars went into inspection at NASCAR’s R&D section?  Turns out they’ve gone through two such inspections now and they’ve both been cleared by NASCAR for both tests.

As it turns out, however, the cars only just barely passed inspection, and the crew chiefs of each car were warned not to bring the cars back for the next race.

Rival race companies muttered blackly about alleged “favoritism”, but the Hendricks boys don’t see it that way, rationally pointing out that they actually DID pass inspection, if not by much.

So the Hendricks team will be back for race day next time, but likely in different cars.

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Now here’s a big news bit for NASCAR enthusiasts–where normally, only the winning car of any particular race and one car chosen at random goes to the NASCAR R&D Center for inspection for compliance with the various NASCAR rules.  But this week, two other cars–those of Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin–were also consigned to the R&D facility this week.

Seems that Johnson and Martin’s cars were both “perilously close to tolerance limits”, and thus are being inspected to see if “perilously close” turned into “over”.

Naturally, series officials declared that both cars were legal according to NASCAR rules, but that’s exactly the kind of thing you’d expect those officials to say in the first place.

So how will they turn out?  We’ll have to keep our eyes front to see what the word is from NASCAR officials, but chances are everything’s just fine.

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You know, under normal circumstances NASCAR is a pretty hair-raising sport for the drivers.  Sure, an easy way to give a NASCAR driver’s job description is “sit on your ass for four consecutive hours while repeatedly turning a wheel to the left”, but what that ignores is the fact that there’s about forty other cars all out to do the same thing.

And for rookie Joey Logano, yesterday’s race was a real hair-raiser.  After being tapped by Bobby LaBonte, Logano’s car launched into a seven-flip maneuver that stopped the race for just over twenty minutes.

There’s video of that incredible flip below, and it really is beyond all belief.  Thankfully, Logano came out of his incredible ride just fine, but pretty badly shaken up.

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In retrospect, it probably wasn’t the greatest of ideas for Jack Daniels to sponsor a NASCAR vehicle, being that Jack Daniels is maybe one of the premier suppliers of high-proof alcohol on the planet.

But indeed, the bad economy just slapped Jack Daniels and its parent company upside the head with an empty bottle, and they pulled their sponsorship of the number seven car for Richard Childress Racing.  Here’s the word direct from the company:

“While it is difficult for us to end our formal relationship with RCR, the current economic environment has compelled us to reevaluate our spending, and we’ve concluded that other areas in the marketing mix require additional investment,” said Tim Rutledge, vice president and brand director for Jack Daniel’s.

When you can’t successfully advertise liquor to NASCAR viewers by sponsoring a car, something’s fundamentally wrong.  Jack Daniels should be having a banner year–I’m not sure I even want to know what’s so bad that they can’t afford to sponsor a NASCAR car.

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GM recently detailed their intentions to officially bring the iconic Mustang to NASCAR. After this announcement, speculation began circulating that the Camaro too would be making its NASCAR debut.

Well it seems that speculation was wrong as Mark Kent, GM Racing head-honcho, recently commented on the car’s NASCAR involvement:

We’ve looked at racing the Camaro, and one thing we do not want to do is to force the car where it shouldn’t be, We looked at NASCAR, for example–took a very hard look at running the Camaro in the Nationwide series. That was a request made of us by NASCAR, and we have had a tremendous partnership with NASCAR, so we took a very hard look at it. At the end of the day, because of the quest for very close competition and the need to have templated bodies in that series, we felt that by forcing the Camaro into the Nationwide templates that we were compromising the body lines of an iconic car. So at the end of the day we just could not get the Camaro in the Nationwide series to satisfy our requirements.

Don’t lose all hope though as Kent then went on to say that the Camaro will most likely be making some sort of racing debut at some point in the near future. Unfortunately however, those looking for a Camaro NASCAR vehicle to transform into Bumblebee on the race track will have to wait until a later date.

via AutoWeek

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The host of two NASCAR sprint cups every year, Pocono Raceway, will be the host of a new solar power plant. A groundbreaking ceremony held last Friday marked the creation of the largest solar power facility at a sports venue in the world.

“We have a power footprint that can be addressed with renewable energy,” green innovator Mike Lynch said. “We see the Pocono project as one that’s a fantastic example of how it can be done.”

By next spring, 40,000 photovolatic panels will be installed on a 25-acre plot. The space used to be used for parking.

New York Times is reporting that some NFL stadiums are discussing on making the move, as well. Hopefully the same thing that Reagan did to Carter’s solar panels on the White House doesn’t happen to this project too.

Read (New York Times)

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In a monumental decision, Ford has decided to introduce their Mustang to the NASCAR racing circuit. The car will make it’s debut as the 2010 Nationwide series and included above is a rendering of what the car wil look like.

Below is a quote from NASCAR President Mike Helton speaking on the Mustang’s NASCAR debut:

“We’re excited about the new car in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, and particularly the new body styles such as the Ford Mustang. It’s going to be one good-looking race car.”

And director of Ford North America Motorsports, Brian Wolfe, speaking of the same matter:

“We’re excited about Mustang coming to NASCAR. It’s the most successful product nameplate in racing history, and it seems only right that it should be coming to the most popular form of racing in North America.”

You can read more about the Mustang being introduced to the NASCAR circuit in the press release after the break.

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Call it a marketing gimmick, but the best way to guide motorists on how it is to save fuel is through an actual vehicle the proves to be fuel-efficient. This promotion comes right in time for the summer when people are expected to do a lot of traveling.

And the person tasked to head the cause is Penske Racing driver Sam Hornish Jr., who will be driving a special no. 77 Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy Dodge in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series LifeLock.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on July 11.

The event will also highlight a retail promotion in which consumers can receive a $10 rebate when they buy five one-quart bottles or one five-quart jug of Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy. The promotion runs from May 18 to August 31, 2009.

(Source) Press

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You know, I’ve been a fan of cars ever since I can remember but I never really understood NASCAR. Why do so many people like it? I mean, as Autoblog put it, it’s just a bunch of “non-stock ’stock cars’ turning left over and over again”, right?

Well, it seems an increasing number of people share the same views as me because ratings for NASCAR on Fox have recently fell 11.5% already this year.

Fingers were pointed towards the poor economy and early end of the Daytona 500 but NASCAR and Fox hope to push the brand through these troubled times. I don’t know about you guys, but I probably wouldn’t watch NASCAR even if I was given free tickets to an event. But that’s just me.

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If you happen to notice the No. 6 UPS Ford Fusion carrying a new look, don’t be surprised. NASCAR fans will see a different look for the No. 6 UPS Ford Fusion this weekend when David Ragan hits the track at Richmond International Raceway for the Russ Friedman 400 presented by Crown Royal.

Taking a break from the traditional brown UPS paint scheme, Ragan’s car will feature a special UPS Freight design to promote the Richmond, Va.-based division of UPS. The design incorporates the gray of UPS Freight with new brown and gold trim using a unique paint formula that includes crushed glass to make the vehicle sparkle.

In addition to the special UPS Freight paint scheme, the UPS Freight Charlotte Service Center will be featured on the wing of Ragan’s No. 6 Ford as part of UPS’s “Maximum Center” program. UPS launched the program this year to recognize UPS operating facilities for accomplishments in service, safety and performance.

To view the new UPS Freight paint scheme for the No. 6 car, log on to racing.ups.com.

(Source) Press

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David Ragan is a rising star over at NASCAR and it looks like he will be doing some racing on another level with UPS. The NASCAR rising star won’t be racing the “big brown truck” this year, but he will be learning what it takes to be a UPS driver in a humorous new television advertising campaign UPS launches this weekend as part of its revamped racing program.

The four-spot series, which was produced by The Martin Agency, will feature Ragan competing with UPS drivers in various extreme physical challenges to determine who will earn the title of “Maximum Driver.” The first spot will be broadcast on FOX on Sunday, April 5, during the Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.

Ragan made his UPS Racing debut at the Daytona 500 in February, at which time a new television ad introducing him to the UPS team began running that featured Ragan driving his Number 6 Ford Fusion through the UPS corporate headquarters. The “Maximum Driver” series will go beyond the introduction, with Ragan facing several unique and potentially harrowing challenges as he goes toe-to-toe with some of UPS’s elite delivery professionals.

The “Maximum Driver” campaign follows UPS’s immensely popular “Race the Truck” commercials featuring NASCAR legend Dale Jarrett, who represented UPS Racing for nearly eight years.

(Source) BusinessWire

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To help promote the world of motorsports, fans will be treated to behind-the-scenes access to many of today’s popular, international professional racing circuits and successful race teams thanks to ExxonMobil’s launch of the new, weekly 30-minute television series devoted to motorsports, “Mobil 1 The Grid.” The show will debut on SPEED at 1:00 a.m. ET on Friday, March 27.

Developed in partnership with Sunset & Vine, a leading global sports television distribution and production company, “Mobil 1 The Grid” will offer exclusive, in-depth features, personality profiles and the latest news from leading motorsports circuits around the globe, including American LeMans Series (ALMS), Mobil 1 Porsche SuperCup, Indy Racing League (IRL), NASCAR and Formula One (F1).

Future episodes of “Mobil 1 The Grid” will run on SPEED at these times: Saturday, March 28, 12:30 a.m.; Friday, April 3, 12:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m.; Saturday, April 4, 1:00 a.m.; Friday, April 10, 4:00 a.m.; Sunday, April 12, 10:30 a.m.; and Friday, April 17, 1:00 a.m.

(Source) Press

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Window World is a totally new player in providing sponsorship at NASCAR and it looks like they found the venture pretty much fruitful. In fact, they have extended their sponsorship of the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports car driven by John Andretti. Andretti finished 19th at Daytona.

One of the sport’s newest sponsors, Window World, will be the primary sponsor of the Front Row Motorsports Chevrolet at the Auto Club Speedway February 22, the Las Vegas Motor Speedway March 1, the Atlanta Motor Speedway March 8 and the Bristol Motor Speedway March 22.

“This is great news for Front Row Motorsports and Window World,” said Bob Jenkins, owner of Front Row Motorsports. “Daytona was the first time Window World sponsored a race car. On and off the track, their program was a success. Window World customers and employees have all rallied behind this program. We want to continue that momentum for another four races.”

(Source) Press

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ExxonMobil has always been associated with NASCAR as an endorser and supporter. In fact, you may even call them practically a couple. And that image will continue to stay as ExxonMobil has announced the renewal of a long-standing official partnership with NASCAR for its Mobil 1 motor oil and Mobil brand of lubricant products.

“Partnering with NASCAR gives us an excellent platform to fully demonstrate our products,” said Alan Kelly, president, ExxonMobil Lubricants & Petroleum Specialties Company. “This agreement with NASCAR showcases the engine protection and performance that Mobil 1 delivers for both NASCAR drivers on the track and race fans traveling to the track. Everyone at ExxonMobil is looking forward to another exciting NASCAR season in which Mobil 1 plays such a prominent role.”

(Source) Press

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